Elek's test

Elek's test, also known as the immuno diffusion technique, is an in vitro virulence test performed upon Corynebacterium diphtheriae.[1] It is used to test for toxigenicity of C. diphtheriae.

It was characterized in 1949.[2] A filter paper strip impregnated with diphtheria antitoxin is buried just beneath the surface of a special agar plate before the agar hardens. Strains to be tested, known positive and negative toxigenic strains are streaked on the agar's surface in a line across the plate, and at a right angle to the antitoxin paper strip. After 24 hours of incubation at 37 degrees celsius, plates are examined with transmitted light for the presence of fine precipitin lines at a 45-degree angle to the streaks. The presence of precipitin lines indicates that the strain produced toxin that reacted with the antitoxin.

References

  1. Schubert JH, Bickham ST, Wiggins GL (November 1968). "Tissue culture method for toxigenicity testing of Corynebacterium diphtheriae". Appl Microbiol 16 (11): 1748–52. PMC 547753. PMID 4973065.
  2. ELEK SD (November 1949). "The plate virulence test for diphtheria". J. Clin. Pathol. 2 (4): 250–8. doi:10.1136/jcp.2.4.250. PMC 1023322. PMID 15396422.

External links

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